The first pioneer cabin in Adams Township was built
by George Boxley around 1828. Twelve years later, he settled on Pioneer
Hill in Sheridan.
His cabin was his refuge from bounty hunters and still stands in Sheridan
as a symbol of his escape after allegedly fomenting a slave revolt in Virginia.
The town was originally called Millwood and several years later was changed
to Sheridan after Civil War General Philip H. Sheridan. The post office
was named Sheridan when it was established in 1871.

Sheridan, Indiana depot in better days, circa early 1950's. Passenger service was still in operation. Note condition of the platform and paint job on the depot.

Left and Right: Sheridan Indiana depot. Picture to
the right show the depot while regular passenger service on the Indianapolis
branch was
still in operation. On the right, the depot post L&N merger.

Left: Sheridan depot, circa November 1979.
Battered and worn. Right: Another view of the depot, circa October 1976.
In each picture, the depot looks in dire need of repairs and a fresh coat
of paint.

Two shots of the Indiana Condenses Milk Company, later Wilson Milk Company at Sheridan. The photo to the left is circa 1930's. The photo to the lower right we believe is crica 1950 or early 1960's. The Indiana Condensed Milk Co., founded and first established In Sheridan, began activity in Lebanon in 1913 when it bought and received milk from Boone County dairymen at a receiving station on West South Street. The milk was then transferred to Sheridan for processing. The company was founded by William Taylor Wilson, a Sheridan resident, and it’s products, sold in half-pints and pint tins with blue and white labels, became widely known as Wilson’s evaporated or condensed milk.

It is late in the steam era. Monon #286 working over
the grass covered tracks in Sheridan, August 1942. The H-6 2-8-0's ruled
the Indianapolis
line freights.

Southbound freight passing through Sheridan, circa 1971.

Monon Steam
engine #410 at Sheridan. Date unknown. This image is from the Charles Huffer
Collection. His photo collection has been digitalized and is currently available on CD from the Monon
Railroad Historical- Technical Society, Inc. Visit their Company
Store for ordering information.

Sheridan,
April 1981. Looking towards the north along the former mainline.

Left: April 1981. Looking along the mainline
at the Hightshue Brothers Purina Chows Feeds. Right: Looking along the mainline
towards the south.

South of town. Looking toward the south (Indianapolis)
along the mainline.

Sheridan Today

CSX abandoned the former Indianapolis
Subdivision and the tracks south of Monticello were removed. What remains
are old roadbeds and other reminders.

NEW 03-18-2011 Left and Right: The Monon Railroad is not the only entity no longer serving Sheridan. The HippodromeTheater once served this community. Many towns and cities along the Monon boasted opera hourse or theaters. Like the railroad, many of them have fallen silent too.

On the north side of Sheridan. Old right of
way is still visible.

Left and Right: Downtown Sheridan. Looking north towards
Monticello along the former right of way. The elevator is still in business,
however,
no rails reach it. The former depot location was southeast of where these
pictures were taken. Today, a service station occupies the land.

Left: Looking up the old line from 10th and Bailey
Streets. As you can tell by the clouds, that day proved to be a rather
wet one. Right: Same location, former right of way looking towards Westfield
and Indianapolis.

Looking down the former Monon right of way near Biddle Park. This
part of the former Monon is being proposed as part of the Monon
Trail project.

Left, Right and Below: The Sheridan depot still exists.
It had been moved two miles west of town on State Road 47, where it sits
on private property. Please ask permission before tresspassing. Left: View
from the end of the driveway. Right: Looking down the front of the old
depot. Below: Close up of the sign above the window.